Multiply - Bonded and Low-Coordinate Silicon and Germanium Compounds

在有机合成计划的支持下，威斯康星大学化学系的罗伯特·韦斯特教授研究了多键和低配位硅和锗化合物的合成、结构和成键。正在研究的化合物的具体类别包括硅炔、二硅炔、金属二阴离子和金属钙，以及其他含有硅或锗与其他原子之间新型双键的化合物。韦斯特教授还在探索稳定的二配位硅化合物(硅烯)及其与过渡金属的络合物的化学，以及在四氯化硅存在下碳的蒸发，产生含硅的富勒烯衍生物。许多关于化学键的性质的问题仍然没有回答，特别是关于碳以外的元素之间的键。威斯康星大学化学系的罗伯特·韦斯特教授得到了有机合成计划的支持，他研究了含有硅和锗原子的化合物的合成和结构，这些化合物显示出不寻常的化学键基元。West教授特别感兴趣的是那些与这些元素显示出多个键的化合物(例如，硅-碳和硅-硅三键)，以及那些这些元素的键比通常少的化合物(例如，二配位硅化合物)。最后，通过在碳气化合成富勒烯(“巴基球”)中加入硅原子的化学来源，韦斯特教授正在制备含硅的富勒烯。从每一项研究中观察到的结果都有望从根本上促进我们对化学键性质的理解。

With the support of the Organic Synthesis Program, Professor Robert West, of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin, studies the synthesis, structure, and bonding of multiply-bonded and low-coordinate silicon and germanium compounds. Specific classes of compounds under investigation include silynes, disilynes, metallole dianions, and metallacalicenes, as well as other compounds containing new types of double bonds between silicon or germanium and other atoms. Professor West is also exploring the chemistry of stable dicoordinate silicon compounds (silylenes) and their complexes with transition metals and the vaporization of carbon in the presence of silicon tetrachloride, producing silicon-containing fullerene derivatives.Many questions remain unanswered about the nature of chemical bonding, particularly with regards to the bonding between elements other than carbon. Professor Robert West, of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin, is supported by the Organic Synthesis Program for his studies of the synthesis and structure of compounds containing silicon and germanium atoms displaying unusual chemical bonding motifs. Of particular interest to Professor West are those compounds which display multiple bonds to these elements (e.g., silicon-carbon and silicon-silicon triple bonds) and those in which these elements bear fewer bonds than usual (e.g., dicoordinate silicon compounds). Finally, by inclusion of chemical sources of silicon atoms in the carbon vaporization synthesis of fullerenes ("Bucky balls"), Professor West is preparing silicon-containing fullerenes. Observations from each of these studies promise to afford fundamental advances in our understanding of the nature of chemical bonding.